'Faith Calls Us to Save, Not Kill'

Beliefnet Contributors Respond to the Attacks

Where is God in all of this? How can a good and powerful God allow these things to happen? The simple answers just aren't helpful on this horrible day. For those of us who look to the Book for guidance, we would do best to follow the example of the Psalm-writers: argue with God, ask the Lord where he is, allow the tears to flow, let the anger express itself, plead for mercy. And for followers of Jesus: look to the Cross, where we believe that the incarnate God experienced the depth of human suffering and abandonment on our behalf--and hold on to the promise that what happened in the death of Jesus is the essential ingredient for the final victory over these monstrous evils.

It may be too much to ask that people of faith love our enemies today. But it is so important that we at least not lash our against innocent people. Whenever something happens that seems to put us at odds with people in the Arab world, little Muslim kids in Southern California get beat up on the way home from school. We must not allow this to happen. This is an important time for people of faith to call for--and model--sanity in the midst of chaos.

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Rabbi David Wolpe

The most important thing to say is that our hearts are broken, and we pray to God to give rest to the souls of those who have died, and comfort to those who are grieving.

But we must also say that the taking of innocent human life for political ends will destroy this fragile garden we have been given. In the name of faith we must save, not kill. Those who do otherwise do not honor God, but rather imperil creation. May God bring justice upon those who have plotted murder and abetted slaughter. May God grant wisdom to those who hate, and turn their bitterness to love.

And may God bless America.

Lama Surya Das, Buddhist Spiritual teacher and author

I think it is a good time to pray, to reflect on what is most important in life, and to think about what steps we might take towards nonviolence within ourselves and our own lives, and towards a more peaceful world.I myself am thinking about what the Buddhist wisdom tells us about how to deal with anger and hatred, grief and loss.